ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • MARCH 2 - 8, 2017 A13

Enjoy these activities

that help you get

to know your St.

Louis American

newspaper.

Activities — Pronouns:

In a news

story, draw

arrows from all pronouns to their

antecedents.

Entertainment: Using the entertainment

section of the newspaper, find something

you would like to do and a restaurant

where you would like to eat.

Determine the total cost of

your outing for one person,

for two, and for your whole

family.

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to

locate information. I can

identify pronouns and antecedents. I can calculate cost

for an event. I can make text-to-self connections.

SCIENCE CORNER

Woerner Elementary School teacher Freddie Johnson, works with

third and fourth graders Aden

Parnell, Carter Foster, Aiden

Chapman, and Austin Lopez on

using the Speedy Fish exercise

from the STEM page in the

newspaper. Woerner Elementary

School is part of the St. Louis

Public Schools district. Photo

by Wiley Price / St. Louis

American

Hidden Figures African American Women Space Pioneers

Hidden Figures is a movie that earned 3 Oscar nominations.

The movie tells the story of three African-American women

who worked at Langley Research Center completing

computations that allowed John Glenn to travel safely in

space. Due to discrimination that was prevalent at that

time, these ladies did not receive credit for their work. The

movie is based off a true story that was written by Margot

Lee Shetterly. Although the book follows the story of four

women, the movie features the story of three: Dorothy

Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Katherine Johnson. (The book

includes Christine Darden).

The ladies were known as “computers” and they used pencils,

slide rules, and adding machines, calculating complex

equations by hand. They moved to Hampton, West Virginia,

to work at Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory due

to labor shortages caused by World War II. Jim Crow Laws

forced the “computers” to work in separate facilities, dine

in separate areas, and use segregated bathrooms. They were

referred to as “West Computers.” Their skills allowed for a

safe launch and return of the 1962 Mercury Friendship 7.

Jackson graduated with degrees in math and physical

science and was hired in 1951 at Langley. Her supervisor

encouraged her to become an engineer. Jackson fought

for the right to learn along with white students and

won. She became NASA’s first African-American engineer.

Vaughan became the first black supervisor and a FORTRAN

programmer. Johnson graduated high school at the age of

14 and was the first African-American woman to attend West

Virginia State University. She graduated at age 18. John

Glenn specifically requested for Johnson to double check

the math involved in his flights. In 2015, Johnson received

the Presidential Medal of Freedom. NASA also has a research

facility named in her honor.

To learn more about “future” Katherine Johnsons, visit: http://www.futurekatherinejohnsons.

com/.

Learning Standards: I can read about people who have

contributed to the fields of science, technology,

engineering, and math. connections.

Teachers, if you are using the St. Louis American’s NIE program and would like to nominate your class for a Classroom Spotlight, please email: nie@stlamerican.com.

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT SCIENCE STARS

MAP CORNER

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

The St. Louis American’s award winning NIE program provides

newspapers and resources to more than 7,000 teachers and

students each week throughout the school year, at no charge.

Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell

csewell@stlamerican.com or 314-289-5422

MATH CONNECTION

Six Apollo

missions landed

on the moon:

Apollo 11, 12, 14,

15, 16, and 17.

Mae Jemison was

the first African-

American woman

in space.

Paper Cup Weight Challenge

As you’ve read in many of the biographies, several of our

STEM stars had experience in activities at a young age that

encouraged them to choose a STEM based career. Did you

know there are STEM opportunities in the St. Louis area?

STEM scouts (https://stemscouts.org/) lists many local

classes for a variety of age levels. Visit

their page, click on St. Louis and read

about the local groups you can join.

STEMPact (http://stempact.org/) is a

St. Louis based organization that allows

schools and local businesses to work

together to provide STEM opportunities. There is even a

field trip planning guide available. The Academy of Science

St. Louis (https://www.academyofsciencestl.org/) is a

good resource of information about STEM events in the St.

Louis area. Visit the websites and learn about the many

opportunities to get involved.

Learning Standards: I can read

nonfiction text for main idea and

supporting details. I can make text-to-world

connections.

In this activity, you will put your critical

thinking skills into action while you

collaborate with a team to solve this

challenge.

Materials Needed:

• 12-20 Small, plastic drinking cups

• 2 Pieces of cardboard (24” by 24”)

Process:

q Your task is to build a platform with

the cups and cardboard that will

support the weight of one

member of your team.

w Place one cardboard square on the floor, and put all of

the cups face down on top of it. Place the other cardboard

square on top.

e Help your team mate carefully stand on the cardboard.

Does it support their weight? If no, try adding more cups.

If yes, try taking away cups. Find the exact number of cups

necessary to support the weight.

Analyze: What surprised you about this activity? How well

did your group work together?

Learning Standards: I can follow

directions to complete an experiment. I can

analyze results and draw conclusions.

Trashketball

DID YOU KNOW?

This game allows you to get up and active while

learning about ratios, fractions, and decimals.

You will need a small trash can, a small ball

(such as a ping pong ball), a

piece of paper, and a pencil.

z Stand about 4-6 feet from

the trashcan. Throw the ball 10 times and

record how many times you successfully

got the ball into the trashcan. _________

x Next, write that number as a ratio. Ex: 3

out of 10 shots were successful. _________

c Next, write that number as a fraction: 3/10.

_________

v Finally, convert that fraction to a decimal 3

divided by 10 = .3 _________

Give it a try! Challenge your friends. Increase

the throwing distance from the trashcan.

Increase the number of throws. Try this game at

home with your parents, too.

Learning Standards: I can calculate

ratios, fractions, and decimals.

Bessie Coleman, also

known as “Queen Bess,

Daredevil Aviator,”

was the first female

African-American

aviator in 1921. She

received her pilot’s

certificate and stunt

training in France.

STEM Opportunities for Students

Apollo 10’s

command module

was called “Charlie

Brown” and the

lunar module was

called “Snoopy.”